Maryland Posts All-Time High GSR Score

Maryland Athletics

10-24-2013

The University of Maryland posted an all-time high institutional Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 86 percent in figures released today by the National Collegiate Athletics Association. It marks the fourth time in the nine-year history of the metric that Maryland has been above 80 percent and the fourth straight year the campus set a school record. Maryland's previous-best GSR of 83 percent came in 2012.

Maryland's four-year Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) for student-athletes was 74 percent (higher than 68% posted last year), nine percent higher than the overall NCAA Division I average of 65 percent.

The Graduation Success Rate is a four-year measure of freshmen and transfer student-athletes who entered the University of Maryland between the fall of 2003 and the spring of 2007. It does not penalize the institution for those student-athletes who transfer from Maryland in good academic standing, as the FGR does. In addition, the GSR includes student-athletes who transfer into the institution and receive athletics aid, unlike the FGR.

Overall, Maryland’s GSR rate of 86 percent is five percent better than the NCAA average of 81 percent.

"The progress we continue to show with both GSR and FGR rates is indicative of the dedication to our vision of providing student-athletes with an excellent experience academically and athletically,” said director of athletics Kevin Anderson. “As we strive to be the best intercollegiate athletics department in the nation, it is vital we continue to cultivate an environment where academics are of boundless importance.”

“Our student-athletes continue to work hard in the classroom and it shows," said Chris Uchacz, associate A.D. for academic services and career development. "Supporting our student-athletes is a total departmental team effort as our number one priority is to serve our WHY while graduating student-athletes.”

In this most recent data, 16 teams at Maryland earned GSRs at or above 80 percent. Women’s cross country and track, field hockey, and gymnastics had perfect 100 percent GSR scores. Women’s cross country and track (100 percent), field hockey (100), women’s golf (90) gymnastics (100), women’s soccer (94), softball (94), and volleyball (91) all matched or improved their GSR score from the previous year. In addition, women’s basketball 92 GSR score was seven percent higher than the NCAA average.

Overall, the men’s golf team achieved a 100 percent GSR, marking the highest-scoring men's team at Maryland. In addition to men’s basketball, football and golf, other men’s programs to secure improved GSR scores include wrestling (86) and soccer (83).

The GSR and FGR are separate from the NCAA's Academic Performance Rates, which will be released in spring 2014.